Mousehold Heath 4.22

Mousehold Heath is an area of heathland and woodland which lies in north east Norwich, England and a designated Local Nature Reserve. It is now mostly covered by broad-leaf semi-natural woodland, although some areas of heath remain and are actively managed. Any resident population is included in the Sewell Ward of Norwich City Council.HistoryIn 1144 the body of a boy, William of Norwich, was found on the heath. The story was circulated that his death was the result of ritual murder carried out by Jews and he attained the status of saint and martyr. This was the first medieval example of blood libel against Jews. A chapel was erected on the site where the body was found, and its remains can still be seen on the northern edge of the present heath.In 1381 the final battle of the Peasants' Revolt took place a few days after a huge meeting of people on the heath occurred on 17 June. There Geoffrey Litster, later to be defeated at the Battle of North Walsham, was proclaimed "King of the Commons".In the Tudor period, Mousehold Heath stretched as far north as South Walsham and was 35km round. By 1779, it still stretched to Woodbastwick.